Weeks 16 & 17 continued:

More people I am grateful for: the men and women who fight forest fires.  Be safe Randy and crew! 

Slide Fire in Arizona

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Since we have been getting rain, these "lovelies" (slugs) show up on our steps.  I know Hunter and Aspynn would think they are as cool as the horned lizards at Grandma's house!  No, I can't mail or bring you some home!  Sorry!

More funny signs:

At a steak house in the Mall

Not really a sign, but we wondered why the wipers are
out on parked cars.  I know in Virginia in the winter,
it is to keep the blades from freezing to the windshield.
You guessed it!  Here it is to keep the blades from
melting to the windshield because of the heat!

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More treasures from home.  Keep them coming - we love and cherish them!

From Braxton

Way to go Elsie!

Thanks Dawn, we love you too!

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I need to redeem myself so Edward will quit teasing me (haha) about one of my earliest posts.  It was of two trees which I labeled a coconut tree, which is correct and another one I stated to be "a really old coconut tree."  Oh, silly me.  The old tree is actually a "fire" tree, which we have watched lose its leaves then get these red/orange berry-looking things on it and it blossomed into a brilliant array of petals! The leaves are coming back now and they are quite the contrast to the "fire." 

Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of flowers. In many tropical parts of the world it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English it is given the name Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant. It is also one of several trees known as Flame tree.

Okay Edward - no more teasing!

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Well, maybe you don't believe me when I say that driving here is scary, but believe me it is true!  One Filipino says driving here is like being on a dance floor:  everyone moving around, jockeying for a position and no one going anywhere!  

Notice the crazy motorcycles!  There
are thousands of them and they dart
in and out of traffic.

Jeepnee over-loaded

Sometimes, EDSA is like a parking lot!

23 million people live in Metro Manila!

The funny thing about all of this is to get a drivers license, you go in and have your blood pressure and eyes checked, have your picture taken, pay the fee which is 700P ($15.00 American) and off you go.  No written or driving test needed and no emission tests on the vehicles.  Yeowee!!!!!!

Bye for now!